Pain Physicians Who Unknowingly Injected Tainted Methylprednisolone Likely to Be Named in Lawsuits However, Physicians Not Likely to Be Found Liable

摘要

The news continues to develop in the tragic outbreak of fungal meningitis in patients who received epidural corticosteroid injections of methylprednisolone prepared by a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts. By the beginning of November this year, the outbreak accounted for 438 cases as of November 12, 2012-32 of which resulted in death-with more cases expected. An estimated 14,000 patients in 19 states may have received injections from the lots implicated in the outbreak, although it remains to be seen how many develop meningitis. As of early November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 97% of these patients had been contacted for follow-up.